THE  GOSPEL  AN  ANTIDOTE  TO  DEATH'S  FEARS. 


•  m  m 


PREACHED  IN  THE 


METHODIST  CHURCHv  CHAPEL  HILL, 

APRIL  1  8,  1856, 


IN  Mi:?.101iY  OF 


BY  REV.  H.  T.  HUDSON, 
OF  TEE  HOETH  OARCLIHA  GO^^FESEIJCE. 


RALEIGH: 

A.   M.  GOilMAN,  PRINTER — SPIRIT  OF  THE  AGE  OFFICE. 

-1850. 


ii 


mm 


Ii 

m 


i 


THE  GOSPEL  AN  ANTIDOTE  TO  DEATH'S  FEAHS. 


PREACHED  IN  THE 


METHODIST  CHURCH,  CHAPEL  HILL, 

APRIL  13,  1856, 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

SIS.  $mm  iiiiiiii: 

BY  REV.  H.  T.  HUDSON, 
OF  THE  NOETH  CAEOLINA  CONFSIlErJCE. 


RALEIGH: 

A.  M.  GORMAN,  PRINTER — SPIRIT  OV  TI  OFFICE. 

185G. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


Rev.  H.  T.  Hudsox  : — Dear  Brother — I  sincerely  desire  a  copy  of 
the  very  appropriate  Sermon,  delivered  hy  you  in  the  M.  E.  Church, 
on  the  13th  inst.,  in  memory  of  my  beloved  companion,  foi  publication. 

I  hope  you  will  find  it  convenient  to  comply  with  the  earnest  re- 
quest of  a  brother  deeply  afflicted. 

I  wish  to  circulate  a  few  copies  of  that  Discourse  among  our  relatives 
and  special  friends,  as  an  abiding  memorial  of  one  whose  life  was 
cheerful  and  happy — beautifully  consistent  with  the  principles  of  the 
Gospel — and  whose  death  displayed  in  a  most  striking  manner  its 
sufficiency  to  light  up  the  "  dark  valley,"  and  cause  the  tongue  quiv- 
ering in  death  to  sing  for  joy. 

Yours  in  Christian  love, 

L.  S.  BURKHEAD. 

Chapel  Hill,  N.  C,  April  28,  1856. 


Rev.  L.  S.  Burkhead  : — Bear  Brother — Yours  of  the  28th  inst. 
has  been  received.  In  obedience  to  your  earnest  request,  I  send  you 
the  Manuscript  containing  siibstaniially  what  was  said  in  the  Dis- 
course. 

Affectionatoly,  H.  T.  HUDSON. 

Chapel  Hill,  April  29,  1856. 


DISCOURSE 


Forasmucli  th&B.  as  the  children  are  partakers  of  fie^h  and  blood,  He  also 
himself  lik°>wise  took  part  of  the  same,  that  through  death  He  might  destroy 
him  that  had  the  power  of  death,  that  is  the  devil.  And  deliver  them,  who 
through  fear  of  death  were  all  their  life-time  subject  to  bondage." — Hebrews 
11:  14,  15. 

The  text  implies  that  d«ath  is  a  fearful  and  dreadful 
thing.  It  has  been  called  the  "  king  of  terrors,"  in  refer- 
ence to  the  greatness  of  dread  it  produces  on  the  human 
race.  Its  approach  makes  the  bravest  crouch  as  a  trembling 
elaye,  and  the  boldest  quail  with  exceeding  fear.  It  is  not 
the  mere  physical  pain  realized  in  the  act  of  dying,  that 
clothes  death  with  such  startling  fears.  For  often  protrac- 
ted illness  paralizes  the  power  of  sensibility,  so  that  the 
consciousness  of  bodily  suffering  is  gone,,  and  yet  gloomy 
fears  hang -around  the  dying  bed.  Thus  we  see  that  in  the 
.absence  of  all  conscious  physical  suffering,  the  spirit  is  frigh- 
teiaed  as  the  cold  shadow  of  death  darkens  its  sun  of  life. — 
There  must  be  something  besides  the  mere  pain  of  ^dying, 
that  gives  death  power  to  enslave  man  in  the  bondage  of  fear. 

"  The  dread  of  something  after  death, 

The  undiscovered  country  from  whose  bourne 

No  traveler  returns — puzzles  the  will," 

and  chills  the  heart  with  undefinable  fears. 

It  is  not  wonderful,  that  death  should  hold  man  in  the 
bondage  of  fear,  hoAvever,  though  nothing  after  death  puzzled 
the  will.  For  what  power  has  death  to  break  up  the  avoca^ 
tions  of  men  ?  At  its  bidding,  the  servant  ceases  to  toil  for 
his  master — the  farmer  to  sow  his  seed  for  harvest — the  me- 
chanic to  wield  his  hammer  for  family  sustenance.  Its  im- 
perious voice  calls  the  teacher  from  his  chair  of  instruction — 
the  lawyer  from  the  bar — the  judge  from  the  bench — the 
statesman  from  the  legislative  hall — the  orator  from  the 
rostrum,  vocal  with  charming  eloquence — the  preacher  from 
the  pulpit,  luminous  with  heavenly  radiance.  At  its  light-  \ 
ning  touch,  the  historian  drops  his  recording  pen — the  func- 
tionary his  ermine— the  warrior  his  banner — the  king  his 
ruling  sceptre — the  tree  of  humanity  its  loveliest  flowers — - 


4 


the  firmament  of  Christianity  its  brightest  stars.  Whatever* 
has  such  power  as  this,  must  be  fearful  to  mankind.  The. 
advent  of  death  is  irresistible — its  time  vailed  ir^  the  deepesl^ 
obscurity — its  mission  is  to  level  all — 

"  The  sceptred  king,  the  Lurthened  slave. 

The  hurablo,  and  the  haughty  die, 
The  rich,  the  poor,  the  base,  the  brave, 

In  dust  vrithout  distinction  lie."  f 

And  by  these,  death  holds  men  in  the  bondage  of  fear. — • 
Death,  with  his  battle-axe  cleaves  the  soul  and  body  asunder  ^ 
lays  the  latter  in  the  "  deep,  damp  vault"  to  slumber  ia 
companionship  with  rayless  darkness,  loathsome  worms,  and. 
despatches  the  former  on  a  lonely  journey  into  the  limitless, 
continent  of  eternity,  to  be  everlastingly  happy,  or  miserable. 

It  is  not  at  all  strange,  then,  that  men  should  fear  death. 
There  is  ample  reason  for  this  fear.  But  the  text  tells  us, 
that  Christ  assumed  the  nature  of  man  to  deliver  those, 
"  -rho,  through  fear  of  death  were  all  their  life-time  subject 
to  bondage."  In  other  words,  the  text  teaches  the  doctriney 
that  the  Grospel  strips  death  of  all  its  fears — rohs  sin  of  its- 
sting — divests  death  of  its  dreads^  and  the  grave  of  its^ 
victory.  So  that  the  believer  is  delivered  from  all  those 
things  that  make  death  painful. 

In  fine,  the  Goapel  of  Christ  swallows  up  death  in  victory. 

This  will  appear  in  considering  th©  grounds  Qf  fearing 
death,  and  how  completely  the  Gospel  removes  these  grounds. 

1.  Death  is  fearful^  because  it  is  a  penalty  of  sin.  "The 
sting  of  death  is  sin,  and  the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law." — 
Thus  we  see  that  the  dart  of  death  is  fearful,  because  pointed 
with  the  venom  of  sin.  Sin  makes  death  bite  like  a  madn 
dcned  serpent,  and  sting  like  a  poisonous  adder.  Death, 
finding  man,  under  the  condemnation  of  the  law,  brings  up, 
his  past  sinSj  '^terrible  as  an  army  with  banners,"  to  alarm,, 
and  driving  arrows  of  deep  remorse,  points  with  his  bony- 
finger  to  the  horrors  of  the  second  death  as.  the  soul's  sure- 
destiny.  No  wonder  death  is  feared,  coming  with  these 
horrrors  to  seize  the  sinner. 

But  to  the  believer,  the  Gospel  brings  deliverance  fronii  ^ 
this  ground  of  fear.  His  siii  is  pardoned,  ai;id  so  the  sting  ^ 
of  death  is  extracted.  Th,ere  is  no  condemnation  of  the 
law  abiding  upon  him.  No  past  sins  to  rise  up  and  con-_ 
dcmn — no  biting  remorse  to  torment — no  gloomy  forebodings 
to  dread.  He  is  sheltered  in  Christ.  "  There  is  therefore 
now  no  condemnation  to  them  who  are  in  Christ  Jecus,  wha 
\Yalk  not  after  the  flesh,,  but  after  the  spirit.    J^or  the  la,w 


5 


the  spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus  hath  made  me  free  from 
the  law  of  sin  and  death."  Thus  we  see  that  the  spirit  of 
the  gospel  makes  us  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death. — 
"  The  righteous  hath  hope  in  his  death,  and  this  hope  maketh 
not  ashamed  5  because  the  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  the 
heart  by  the  Holy  Ghost."  With  the  pleasing  sense  of 
pardoning  love  abiding  in  the  heart,  the  dying  believer  tri- 
umphs over  death,  exclaiming,  "  0  I  death,  where  is  thy 
sting  ?  0  !  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ?" 

This  triumph  over  death  is  often  clearly  exemplified  on 
the  death-bed  of  Christians.  We  will  give  a  few  cases. — 
Mr.  Wesley,  on  his  dying  bed,  exclaimed,  "The  best  of  all 
is,  God  is  with  us."  Dr.  Goodwin,  when  dying  so  peace- 
fully, asked :  Is  this  dying  ?  How  have  I  dreaded  .as  an 
enemy  this  smiling  friend."  The  Rev.  Thomas  Scott  v^^as 
so  happy  while  dying  as  to  say :  "  This  is  heaven  begun — 
satan  is  vanquished — nothing  now  remains  but  salvation  with 
eternal  glory."  The  pious  Dr.  Payson,  on  his  dying  pillow, 
exclaimed :  "  God  is  in  this  room.  I  see  him ;  and  oh  !  how 
lovely  is  the  sight ;  how  glorious  does  he  appear  ;  worthy  of 
ten  thousand  hearts,  if  I  had  so  many  to  give."  Soon  after 
this,  when  the  clammy  sweat  of  death  was  gathering  upon  his 
brow,  he  exclaimed,  like  a  victorious  warrior,  fresh  from  the 
field  of  triumph  :  "  The  baitle  is  fought  I  and  victory  is  won 
forever,''''  And  then  uttered  the  following  sentences,  so  full 
of  pathos  and  inspiring  eloquence  :  "  The  celestial  city  is 
fully  in  view — -its  glories  beam  upon  me — its  breezes  fan  me — 
its  odors  are  wafted  to  tclq — its  music  strikes  my  ear,  and  its 
spirit  breathes  into  my  heart ;  nothing  separates  me  from 
it,  but  the  river  of  death.^  which  now  appears  as  a  narrow 
rill,  which  may  be  crossed  at  a  single  step,  whenever  God 
gives  permission."  These  examples  show  how  completely 
and  gloriously  the  fear  of  death  is  swallowed  up  in  the  vic- 
tory won  by  the  Gospel.  And  here  the  glory  of  Christianity 
is  seen  in  armoring  the  christian  with  such  power  as  to  con- 
quer death-,  that  had  led  the  world  as  a  chained  captive  to 
his  bloody  chariot,  rolling  victoriously  over  the  mightiest 
conquerors  of  earth.  But  now  death,  the  defiant  conqueror 
of  all  conqerors,  is  led  the  chained  captive  to  the  wheels  of 
the  christian's  chariot.  "  Thanks  be  unto  God,  who  givcth 
us  the  victory,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

2. .  Death  is  fearful^  deeaicse  it  has  poiuer  to  destroy  the 
body.  The  disease  paling  the  cheek  of  health,  distempering 
the  body,  palsying  an  active  limb,  yet  not  threatening  life, 
is  feared.    But  death  batters  down  the  physical  man — the 


6 


beautiful  and  tv'ondrous  i^fisidence  of  the  intelligent  spirit  is 
crushed  to  dust  under  its  ponderous  blow.  This  walking 
palace  of  the  soul,  so  lovely  in  charming  beauty,  so  admira- 
ble in  divine  workmanship,  so  versatile  in  active  exertion, 
with  its  eye-windows  flashing  the  ethereal  fires  of  the  soul, 
and  its  tireless  tongue  of  song  and  eloquence,  must  crumble 
to  its  original  dust,  and  become  so  loathsome  as  to  be  hid  in 
the  grave,  to  keep  it  from  offending  the  living.  Death  works 
all  this  ruin,  and  hence  is  feared. 

But  the  Gospel  removes  this  ground  of  fear  in  its  clearly 
revealed  doctrine  of  a  glorious  resurrection. 

"  For  the  trumpet  shall  sound,  and  the  dead  shall  be 
raised  incorruptible.  For  this  corruptible  must  put  oil  in- 
corruption,  and  this  mortal  must  put  on  immortality." 

The  Lord  shall  change  our  vile  body,  that  it  may  be 
fashioned  like  unto  His  glorious  body." 

What  though  this  body  lies  in  its  dusty  bed,  vdthout  form 
or  comeliness,  shorn  of  all  former  strength,  robbed  of  all  its 
living  charms,  yet  the  Almighty  power  of  God  shall  raise  it 
up  at  the  last  day,  and  it  shall  stand  forth,  girded  w-th  the 
strength  of  immortality,  beaming  in  the  perfection  of  fade- 
less beauty,  and  shining  in  the  heavenly  splendor  of  Christ's 
glorified  body. 

Why,  then,  should  the  christian  fear  the  grave,  when  it  is 
but  the  attiring  ro^m  for  defective  mortals  to  put  on  the  per- 
fective glory  of  an  ever  blooming  immortality  ? 

Why  dread  it,  when  it  is  the  consecrated  chamber  for 
i'edeemed  humanity  to  array  herself  in  the  bridal  robes  of 
celestial  livery,  to  be  a  fit  companion  to  associate  with  the 
beauteous  tenantry  of  the  upper  world  ? 

Thus  we  see  that  this  fear  is  swallowed  in  victory. 

3.  Death  is  fearful;  because  it  ends  onans  prohatiov,  and 
ushers  him  into  the  immedisite  pi^esence  of  God.  On  the 
separation  of  soul  and  body,  the  latter  goes  to  its  dust,  and 
the  former  to  God.  "  Then  shall  the  dust  return  to  the 
earth  as  it  was,  and  the  spirit  shall  return  unto  God,  who 
gave  it."  Here,  we  see,  that  death  introduces  the  soul  into 
the  immediate  presence  of  God. 

Man  feels  emotions  of  fear  on  entering  into  a  strange 
country,  whose  customs,  laws  and  inhabitants  are  all  new. — 
But  these  emotions  must  be  vastly  increased,  when  the  lonely 
spirit  wings  its  way  into  that  ^'  undiscovered  country  from 
whose  bourne  no  traveler  returns,"  to  give  local  tidings  to 
others,  and  into  the  holy  presence  of  Him,  whose  spotless 
purity  causes  seraphim  to  cry,  "  Holy,  holy,  holy,  is  the 


7 


Lord  of  Hosts,"  whose  smile  lights  up  heaven  with  imperish- 
able glory,  whose  frown  is  the  darkness  which  shrouds  hell 
in  its  endless  gloom.  This  fear  haunts  the  departing  spirit 
of  the  dying  sinner.  A  noted  infidel  said  when  dying  :  "I 
make  a  leap  in  the  dark."  What  painful  doubt  shrouded 
his  mind  !  Socrates,  the  prince  of  Grecian  Philosophers, 
found  lib  sure  ground  to  rest  upon  from  all  his  philosophy, 
when  dying.  He  said  to  weeping  friends  :  "  I  am  going  to 
die,  and  yon  to  live;  which  is  best  I  know  not."  But  the 
gospel  removes  this  ground  of  dread  from  the  Christian's 
mind,  by  a  strict  assurance  of  meeting  a  reconciled  Father 
in  eternity. 

The  Christian  has  been  already  taught  to  say  "  Abba  Fath- 
er.'^ He  goes  to  God  as  a  dutiful  child  goes  to  a  loving  father, 
being  assured  beforehand  of  meeting  the  welcome  greeting, 
"  Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant,  ^nter  into  the 
joy  of  thy  Lord'* 

This  pleasing  assurance  of  a  happy  admission  into  God's 
immediate  presence  is  forcibly  expressed  by  St.  Paul,  when 
standing  on  the  brink  ef  the  eternal  world  :  I  am  now  ready 
to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand  ;  I 
kave  fought  a  good  fight ;  I  have  finished  my  course ;  I  have 
kept  the  faith  :  Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown 
of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  shall 
give  me  at  that  day,  and  not  to  me  only,  but  unto  all  them 
also,  that  love  His  appearing."  How  triumphant  this  assu- 
rance of  bein^  crowned  an  heir  of  eternal  life  on  his  arrival 
to  God. 

4.  Death  is  fearful ;  because  it  banishes  man  from  his 
earthly  home.  Banishment  from  one's  native  country  is 
considered  a  sufficient  punishment  for  certain  crimes. — 
Exile  is  even  dreaded,  when  it  is  only  a  migration  from  one 
part  of  the  earth  to  another,  with  the  hope  of  future  return. 
But  the  decree  of  death  banishes  the  sinful  spirit  from  its 
beautiful  home  into  "utter  darkness,"  where  there  is  "weep- 
ing, wailing  and  gi^asliing  of  teeth,"  without  the  faintest 
hope  of  return. 

Men  have  strsng  attachments  to  this  earth,  as  it  is  their 
home  of  love,  enjoyment  and  active  life.  They  love  to  tread 
•the  green  earth — to  see  its  blooming  vales — its  towering 
mountains — its  broad  rivers  and  heaving  "seas — its  bright 
sun,  silvery  moon  and  twinkling  stars. 

But  death  exiles  them  from  this  pleasant  abode,  and  sin 
banishes  tJhe  unpardoned  into  ^^outer  darkness,''  wh^re  no  mn 
glitters — ^no  star  sparkles — no  fragrant  flower  blossoms — ^no 


8 


splendid  cities  hum  with  the  song  of  mirth,  but  all  is  deep 
darkness  and  dreary  void.  Hence,  men  fear  death  on  this 
account.  But  the  gospel  opens  to  the  Christian  a  lovelier 
country,  a  fairer  land  of  pure  delight,  whose  celestial  beauty 
was  but  faintly  typed  in  the  beautiful  Eden  first  prepared 
for  man ;  whose  riches  were  but  dimly  adumbrated  in  the 
Jewish  Canaan ;  and  whose  imperishable  splendors  but 
partially  disclosed  in  the  apocalyptic  vision.  There,  the 
New  Jerusalem,  "  prepared  as  a  bride  adorned  for  her  hus- 
band," stands  with  its  Jasper  walls,  its  golden  streets,  its 
pearly  gates,  its  tree  of  life  waving  in  eternal  freshness,  its 
pure  river  clear  as  chrystal  flowing  to  beautify  the  inhabi- 
tants. There  the  out-beaming  glory  of  God  scatters  night 
away,  and  lights  up  the  city  with  meridian  splendor.  For 
"the  city  had  no  need  of  the  sun,  neither  of  the  moon,  to 
shine  in  it ;  for  the  glory  of  God  did  lighten  it,  and  the 
Lamb  is  the  light  thereof."  This  prospect  of  a  better  home 
causes  the  christian  to  ever  rejoice  at  death  banishing  him 
from  his  earthly  dwelling  place.  For  here  is  consoling  com- 
fort in  these  words  of  his  Saviour :  "  Let  not  your  heart  be 
troubled ;  ye  believe  in  God,  believe  also  in  Me.  In  my 
Father's  house  are  many  mansions  ;  if  it  were  not  so,  I  would 
have  told  you.  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you.  And  if  I 
go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you,  I  will  come  again,  and  receive 
you  unto  Myself,  that  where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also."^ 
Why,  then,  should  the  christian  fear  death's  banishment,- 
when  it  is  but  a  banishment  from  the  wilderdess  of  sin  to  the 
paradise  of  holiness  ?  When  it  is  but  an  exile  from  a  leaky 
cabin  to  a  princely  palace — a  removal  from  a  crumbling 
cottage  to  a  bright  mansion  built  by  divine  power  and  filled 
with  di\ane  glory. 

5.  Death  is  fearful ;  because  it  sejmrates  man  from  society, 
Man  is  naturally  a  social  being,  and  much  of  his  happiness 
is  bound  up  in  congenial  companionship.  A  certain  one 
remarks,  that  solitude  is  fit  for  no  one  but  a  mad-man,  or  a 
God  who  has  an  eternal  self-sufiSciency  within  the  bounds  of 
his  own  nature.  The  remark  is  forcible.  A  man  in  absolute 
solitude  must  draw  his  happiness  from  the  well  within,  which 
is  soon  exhausted  without  any  channel  of  replenishing.  Of 
course  he  must  be  miserable.  Death  separating  the  un- 
godly from  family  relatives,  friendly  neighbors  and  pleasant 
companions,  is  feared,  because  of  this  snai^'ping  of  living 
ties.  But  the  christian  has  nothing  to  fear.  True  there  is 
a  separation  from  his  christian  companions,  but  this  is  only 
temporary.  The  dying  saint  goes  just  a  little  in  advance  of 
his  fellow  companions. 


9 


tf  all  his  friends  are  christians,  they  tvill  meet  him  er^ 
long;  if  not,  he  loses  nothing  hy  the  separation.  The  chris- 
tian society  is  a  great  army  marching  to  the  celestial  Canaan. 
Some  of  this  army  have  crossed  the  Jordan  of  death,  and 
entered  safely  the  land  of  promise.  Others  are  yet  in  the 
wilderness,  but  the  same  God  who  led  the  home-landed 
pilgrims  in  safety  and  triumph,  will  bring  tip  those  in  the 
wilderness  in  due  time,  to  join  the  blood-washed  throngs  with 
songs  of  deliverance  and  greetings  of  renewed  friendship. — 
Besides  all  this,  the  departed  saint  forms  new  companions 
of  the  purest  character.  He  leaves  weeping  companions  on 
this  side  of  Jordan  who  will  follow  soon,  but  he  does  not  go 
into  a  desert  to  sit  in  solitary  loneliness  till  they  arrive  ;  but 
goes  "unto  the  citj  of  the  living  God,  the  heavenly  Jeru- 
salem, and  an  innumerable  company  of  angels  :  To  the  gen- 
eral assembly  and  church  of  the  first  born,  which  are  written 
in  heaven,  and  to  God,  the  Judge  of  all,  and  to  the  spirits 
of  just  men  made  perfect,  and  to  Jesus,  the  Mediator  of  the 
new  covenant/'  Thus  v/e  see,  that  the  temporary  separation 
from  a  few  earthly  friends  is  infinitely  compensated  by  the 
happy  privilege  of  joining  the  shining  hosts  of  holy  angels, 
of  glorified  saints,  of  seeing  God  '-face  to  face"  in  His  un- 
folding glory,  of  beholding  Jesus  "  as  he  is,  the  fairest  among 
ten  thousand,  the  one  altogether  lovely,"  of  sitting  down 
with  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob  in  the  deep  repose  of  eternal 
rest. 

6.  Finally,  dealifi  is  feared ;  because  it  deprives  men  of 
their  pleasures.  The  wine-bibber  is  forced  from  his  intoxi- 
cating cups,  the  money-grasping  miser  is  divorced  from  his 
gold  idol,  the  swinish  epicurean  no  longer  sits  around  the 
festive  board  of  luxurious  dainties,  the  fame  seeker  hears  no 
more  the  thundering  applause,  so  musical  to  his  ever-listening 
ear.  All  earthly  pleasures  fledge  and  fly  away  at  the  ap- 
proach of  death.  Men  may  carry  their  passions  to  desire, 
their  appetites  to  rage,  their  thirsts  to  pant,  with  them  into 
eternity,  but  the  means  of  gratification  are  removed  forever. 

The  rich  man  was  clothed  in  purple  and  fared  sumptuously 
every  day  in  this  world,  but  death  dislodged  him  from  his 
comforts,  and  fixed  his  abode  in  hell ;  and  he  cried  for  vv'ater 
to  cool  his  tongue,  but  was  answered :  Remember,  that  thou 
in  thy  life-time  receivedst  thy  good  things,  and  likewise 
Lazarus  evil  things  ;  hut  noiv  he  is  comforted  and  thou  art 
tormented.'" 

Here  we  see,  that  the  ungodly  are  deprived  of  all  their 
pleasures  by  death,  while  the  godly  are  taken  to  higher, 


10 


nobler,  sublimer  pleasures.  Hence,  the  sinful  have  just 
ground  to  fear  death,  while  the  righteous  are  delivered  from 
this  fear  by  the  blessings  of  the  gospel.  The  christian  loses 
no  happiness  by  death,  but  gains  deeper,  purer  and  greater 
bliss.  "For  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain^'  says 
St.  Paul.  By  living  he  spreads  the  glory  of  Christ  over  the 
earth,  but  by  dying  he  enters  upon  the  blessed  enjoyment  of 
that  "  inheritance,  which  is  incorruptible,  undefiled  and 
fadeth  not  away."  "  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the 
Lord,  from  henceforth  :  yea  saith  the  spirit,  that  they  may 
rest  from  their  labors." 

Joys  on  earth  are  imperfect  as  to  quality,  mingled  with 
many  grains  of  alloy,  tinged  with  the  dark  hues  of  melan- 
ancholy.  They  are  fleeting  as  to  duration — fleeing  at  the 
touch  of  disappointment,  withering  under  the  breath  of  every 
disease,  embittered  constantly  by  sin's  seductive  influence. 
They  are  limited  in  quantity^ — leaving  many  deep  cells  of  the 
soul  unfilled,  which  are  but  aching  voids  of  restlessness. — 
But  on  dying,  the  christian  "  enters  into  the  joy  of  Ms  Lord," 
where  there  is  fullness  of  joy.  For  we  are  told,  "  In  thy 
presence  is  fullness  of  joy,  at  thy  right  hand  are  pleasures 
^  forevermore."  Here  is  fullness  of  joy  for  the  departed  saint. 
Every  capacity  of  the  soul  is  full  to  overflowing.  No  aching 
voids,  no  empty  cells,  no  unsatisfied  wants,  but  all  full  of 
pure  blessedness.  In  tJiy  presence  is  fullness  of  joj  and  no- 
where else.  There  joys  float  upon  every  breeze,  grow  upon 
every  tree,  roll  in  every  stream,  chaunt  in^very  song,  beam 
in  every  eye,  bound  in  every  heart.  And  these  joys  are 
not  mingled  with  the  ingredients  of  sorrow,  but  are  such  as 
spring  from  the  holy  presence  of  God  ;  chaste,  pure,  spiritual 
joys,  swelling  up  in  fullness  from  the  Divine  Throne,  and 
flowing  as  a  "  pure  river  clear  as  crystal,"  to  gladden  with 
morning  freshness  and  evergreen  verdure  the  wide  extended 
plains  of  immortal  life.  And  again,  they  are  "  pleasures 
evermore'' — eternal  in  duration.  Not  like  the  flowers  bloom- 
ing to-day  on  the  mountain  side,  and  to-morrow  lie  withered 
and  strewn,  but  more  lasting  than  the  mountain  itself.  Not 
like  the  rainbow  bending  its  beautiful  arch  one  hour,  and 
then  vanishing  ;  but  they  will  be  fresh,  bright  and  glorious, 
when  sun,  moon  and  stars  have  ceased  to  glitter.  Celestial 
glory  is  their  quality— divine  fullness  their  quantity,  and 
eternity  their  duration. 

Why  then,  should  the  christian  fear  to  give  up  the  rill  of 
pleasure  here,  when  he  goes  to  the  deep,  clear  ocean  of  hap- 
piness ?    Why  fear  to  give  up  the  crumbs  here,  when  he  is 


11 


iadmit'ted  as  a  g^iest  to  the  great  supper  of  the  Lamb, 
spread  in  its  rich  fullness  in  heaven  ?  Why  fear  to  give  up 
the  gleanings  in  the  field  of  time,  when  the  ripe,  vast  and 
waving  harvest  of  eternal  life  invites  him  to  put  in  his  sickle 
and  reap  "joys  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory  V  We  see 
then  that  while  death  removes  the  sinner  from  all  his  pleas- 
ures, it  only  opens  the  gate  to  the  christian  to  that  beauteous 
World  of  everlasting  bliss  : 

"  Where  the  rivers  of  pleasure^  flow  o'er  the  bright  plains, 

And  the  noontide  of  glory  eternally  reigns  ; 

Where  the  saints  of  all  ages  in  harmony  meet, 

Their  Saviour  and  brethren,  transporter  to  greet ; 

While  anthems  of  rapture  unceasingly  roll, 

And  the  smile  of  the  Lord  is  the  feast  of  the  soul.'' 

Having  discussed  the  main  principles  of  the  text,  we  now 
take  pleasure  in  giving  a  brief  memoir  of  our  departed  Sister, 
whose  death  called  forth  the  sermon.  The  rich  consolation 
of  the  text  was  ei\]oyed  by  our  departed  sister.  She  realized 
the  blessed  experience  of  conquering  death — of  fearing  no 
evil  while  passing  "  through  the  dark  valley  and  shadow  of 
death."  The  comforting  doctrine  of  a  glorious  resurrection — ■ 
of  meeting  a  smiling  Father  in  heaven — of  entering  a  celestial 
home  so  bright  and  beautiful — of  meeting  there  and  rejoining 
separated  and  beloved  friends — of  enjoying  there  the  riches 
of  eternal  life,  were  solid  grounds  of  happiness  and  great 
peace  to  her,  whien  all  earthly  stays  had  been  removed  by 
death.  But  to  be  more  definite  about  the  character  of  our 
departed  sister.  We  will  state  something  of  her  pious  life 
and  happy  death.  The  narative  shall  be  plain  and  brief, 
giving  only  some  of  the  characteristics  of  her  purity  in  life, 
and  triumph  in  death  :  Sarah  G.  Burkhead,  the  daughter 
of  Grey  and  Eliza  Utley,  residents  of  Chapel  Hill,  Orange 
County,  N.  C,  was  born  the  21st  of  June,  1838.  Her 
parents  are  pious  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  who  had  the 
pleasing  testimony  from  her  dying  lips,  that  they  had  raised 
her  in  those  religious  principles,  that  made  her  life  useful 
and  her  dying  moments  happy.  The  highest  consolation  that 
parents  can  have  from  their  children,  is  to  know  that  they 
lived  well,  and  died  with  a  good  hope  of  heaven.  This,  the 
|)arents  of  our  departed  friend  have  in  a  high  degree.  Mrs. 
Burkhead  made  a  profession  of  religion  when  but  twelve 
years  old.  Her  conversion  was  clear  and  satisfactory.  She 
grew  in  grace  and  the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ."  Ever 
punctual  in  her  religious  duties,  she  was  happy  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  that  Christianity,  which  always  yields  its  harvest  of 


12 


peaceable  fruits  to  those  who  cultivate  it  with  a  dilige'nt  hand,' 
and  embrace  its  doctrines  with  an  undivided  heart.  Unlike' 
too  many  professors,  around  the  table  of  whose  heart  the 
Saviour  is  as  a  poor  Lazarus,  getting  but  the  crumbs  of 
affection,  while  the  world — the  rich  man — fares  sumptuously 
every  day,  she  gave  the  richest  of  her  heart's  treasures  to 
her  Redeemer.  The  legitimate  fruits  of  such  fixedness  of 
purpose,  lively  devotion  in  service  and  punctuality  in  duty, 
were  ''love,  joy,  peace,  long  suffering,  gentleness,  goodness 
and  meekness,"  displayed  in  all  her  relations  of  life.  In 
1854,  August  31,  she  was  married  by  Prof.  A.  M.  Shipp,  to 
Rev.  L.  S.  Burkhead,  of  the  N.  C.  Conference.  In  this 
sphere  of  life,  she  showed  those  excellencies  that  make  the 
wife  "a  help  meet"  and  "a  crown  to  her  husband."  That 
tender  love  that  makes  tke  pathway  of  married  life  and  the 
desert  of  domestic  affliction  "  rejoice  and  blossom  as  the 
rose^' — that  makes  the  "dark  side  of  life"  sunny  with  joy 
and  its  mute  harps  vocal  with  soothing  music,  flowed  co- 
piously from  her  heart  sanctified  with  the  spirit  of  piety  to 
cheer  her  husbaiid's  heart  and  sweeten  his  arduous  toils. — = 
What  is  peculiarly  beautiful  in  this  deep,  ardent  affection,  is 
its  sweet  blending  with  Christianity.  Love  always  makes  the 
wife  as  lovely  and  fragrant  as  blossoms  do  the  tree,  but  when 
it  is  refined  and  heightened  by  the  gospel,  it  is  then  it  adorns 
her  with  the  fairer  beauty  and  richer  fragrance  of  the  flowers 
of  paradise. 

In  her  correspondence,  (to  which  we  have  access  in  com- 
posing the  memoir)  we  find  some  passages  glowing  "vtith  love 
sanctified  by  the  gospel.  As  the  following :  "  My  own 
one,  I  am  happy  in  the  reflection  that  I  can  unbosom  my 
whole  heart  to  you ;  and  know  that  your  warm  and  affection- 
ate  heart  sympathises  and  rejoices  with  mine  in  all  things. 
What  a  pleasure  !  Religion  has  imrjjied  and  exalted  our 
love.  Who  would  not  he  a  Christian  f  The  following 
extracts  shows  how  her  loving  leart  leaned  upon  God  as  the 
great  stay  of  repose  in  imcertain  matters.  She  says  :  "I 
leGir  your  health  is  declining.  But  why  shoilld  I  fear  ?  Will 
not  our  kind  Heavenly  Father  take  care  of  you  ?  I  some- 
times feel  sad  about  your  condition,  but  then  something  tells 
me  '  all  will  be  for  the  best.'  I  hope  so.  I  will  feel  easy 
about  you.  I  would  not  do  anything  if  I  knew  it  to  give  you 
one  gloom}^  thought.  We  are  in  the  hands  of  God."  How 
strong  her  love,  yet  who  does  not  admire  the  faith  that  guides 
and  sanctifies  it  as  something  of  greater  power  ? 

But  what  was  so  commendable  in  her  character  as  a  wife, 


13 


^^as  her  ready  cheerfulness  to  co-operate  with  her  husband 
in  advancing  the  cause  of  Christianity.  Such  are  the  stern 
difficulties  in  itinerant  life,  that  our  preachers  need  all  the 
encouragement  that  can  be  given  them  to  make  them  perse- 
vere therein.  When  the  strong  influence  of  a  beloved  wife 
favors  the  itinerant,  how  much  lighter  is  the  burden  made — 
how  much  smoother  the  road — how  much  longer  the  work- 
man labors.  But  if  the  traveling  preacher  does  not  find  a 
ready  co-operation  from  his  wife,  but  feels  draw-backs  hang 
around  his  neck  by  the  soft  fingers  of  wifely  affection,  how 
heavy  the  burden — how  rough  the  road,  and  how  many,  alas, 
seek  repose  in  location.  But  our  departed  sister  threw  no 
impediments  in  the  way  of  the  husband's  calling,  but  sent 
fervent  prayers  to  heaven  for  God's  help,  and  with  a  hearty 
good  will  went  whither  he  went,  to  co-operate  in  the  holy 
cause  of  religion.  Her  cheerful  going  and  constant  praying 
were  wings  to  lift  him  over  the  chasms  and  hills  of  itinerant 
life,  and  enable  him  to  soar  high  in  usefulness.  How  worthy 
of  imitation  in  this  co-operation.  How  often  is  the  preacher's 
stream  of  usefulness  turned  into  the  stagnant  pool  of  location 
]3y  the  wife's  reluctance  to  travel  at  the  sacrifice  of  domestic 
ease,  that  would  by  her  cheerful  consent  flow  on  through 
the  continent  of  half  of  a  century,  making  its  vallies  yield 
annual  harvests  of  gospel  fruit.  Let  the  sad  experience  of 
the  past  apologize  for  what  we  say  on  this  point,  and  the 
lesson  here  taught  be  put  on  record  for  the  edification  of 
others.  We  will  give  a  few  extracts  from  her  letters  written, 
to  her  husband  when  he  was  hesitating,  because  of  precarious 
health,  whether  to  take  work  or  not,  and  had  written  to  her 
for  advice.  She  responds :  "  My  dear,  I  do  not  know  how 
tQ  advise  you.  I  feel  my  incompetency.  But  one  thing  let 
me  say ;  I  would  not  be  one  moment's  hindrance  to  you  in 
your  work.  Where  thou  goest  there  will  I  go  cheerfully 
and  gladly.  I  am  your  wife,  and  it  is  my  duty  to  comfort 
and  help  you  in  your  labor  of  love.  Do  what  you  believe  to 
be  your  duty  to  God,  who  is  ever  mindful  of  his  children." 
Again  sbe  writes  :  "  My  dear,  I  feel  for  you  so  much.  I  know 
your  situation.  It  is  hard  for  you  to  decide  in  regard  to  taking 
work  next  year.  You  want  to  do  right,  I  know,  and  God  forbid 
that  I  should  say  one  word  against  it,  God  only  can  direct  you. 
Every  time  I  bow  before  the  Throne  of  Grace  I  humbly  pray  that 
the  Good  Being  may  direct  you,  by  His  wisdom,  in  the  path  of 
^uty.  My  dear  husband,  dearly  as  I  love  you,  I  feel  that  we 
ought  to  sacrifice  all  for  God, — ^yea,  even  life  itself.  Apply  to 
Him  for  counsel,  and  then  walk  according  to  the  promptings  of 
your  own  heart,  directed  hy  His  providence.    I  will;,  as  long  as  I 


14 


can  utter  a  single  word,  unite  with  you  at  a  Throne  of  Grace  in 
beseeching  G-od  to  direct  you  in  every  time  of  darkness  and  trial. 
And  I  feel  and  know  that  He  will  do  by  us  what  is  right.  My 
heart  is  much  drawn  out  in  prayer,  and  I  feel  that  I  intend  to  live 
more  holy.  Be  cheerful;  look  to  God  for  comfort  and  guidance, 
and  work  for  Him  while  strength  and  life  endures.'' 

"Who  does  not  admire  the  rich  vein  of  piety  nmning  through 
these  letters — the  trustful  dependence  on  God — the  wise  counsel 
given,  and  her  readiness  to  co-operate  with  her  husband  to  promote 
the  cause  of  religion  ?  Her  amiable  spirit  and  pleasing  manners 
won  for  her  warm-hearted  friends  wherever  she  was  known.  The 
very  large  concourse  of  people,  composed  of  all  classes,  that 
attended  her  funeral,  and  expressed  their  sympathy  in  tears,  is 
clear  evidence  of  her  worthiness  and  estimable  standing  in  her 
native  village.  Letters  of  condolence  from  abroad  to  her  husband 
show  what  a  favorable  impression  she  made  during  her  brief  career 
through  society,  as  the  wife  of  a  traveling  preacher.  We  give 
one  or  two  extracts : 

''J/j/  ajjlicted  hrotlier :  I  cannot  describe  my  feelings  to  you  on 
reading  Sister  Bui-khead's  death  in  the  paper.  She  was  one  of 
those  dear  ones  who  could  not  be  known  without  being  loved. 
Though  my  acquaintance  with  her  was  short,  yet  she  was  dearly 
loved  by  me,  and  her  memory  I  shall  ever  cherish  with  the  fondest 
recollection.'' 

Her  former  instructor  gives  the  following  testimonial  of  her 
worth :  Yours,  indeed,  is  no  common  loss.  I  knew  your  de- 
parted companion  well.  She  was  once  a  beloved  pupil  of  mine. 
Nature  had  endowed  her  with  a  dear  head  and  a  A-uid  hearty 
which  grace  sanctified.  She  possessed,  in  a  high  degree,  candor, 
affability  and  benevolence,  with  a  sweetness  of  temper  that  scarcely 
knew  a  ruffle.  But  she  has  gone  I  The  puidty  of  her  life  and 
the  peacefulness  of  her  death  is  your  consolation." 

JS^dr  triumpJianf  death  claims  our  attention  next.  During  her 
protracted  and  painful  illness,  she  exhibited  sweet  submissiveness 
to  the  Divine  will,  and  displayed  great  Christian  fortitude  in  her 
complicated  sufferings.  She  died  of  puerperal  fever,  complicated 
with  pneumonia.  On  the  day  of  her  death,  Bro.  Shipp  and  my- 
self visited  her.  We  found  her  calmly  composed.  He  approached 
her  with  encouraging  words,  in  which  he  referred  to  the  "precious 
Saviour."  She  responded  feelingly,  "'Jesus  is  always  precious, 
and  especially  in  the  hour  of  death."  Soon  after,  she  began  to 
ging  in  a  distinct  voice,  "  This  world  is  not  my  home.''  when  her 
eyes  beamed  with  a  heavenly  lustre  and  deep  composure,  before 
dying  she  called  for  her  lovely  baby,  (about  five  weeks  old,)  and 
imprinted  her  last  affectionate  kiss  upon  his  cheek,  dedicating  him 
to  God.  She  prayed  fervently  that  God  would  take  care  of  him. 
She  then  called  around  her  dying  bed  her  beloved  husband, 
father,  mother  and  sisters,  and  kissing  them  affectionately,  ex- 
horted earnestly  that  they  should  be  resigned  to  Grod's  will  in 


15 


taking  lier  away,  and  meet  her  in  heaven.  Thus  departed  our 
beloved  sister,  leaving  evidence  of  clear  and  unmistakeable  ripe- 
ness for  the  celestial  world.  It  was  refreshing  and  strengthening 
to  witness  her  triumph  over  death.  Her  triumphant  victory  over 
death,  as  we  saw  it  with  our  own  eyes,  argued  more  potently  the 
truth  of  Christianity,  than  book  logic,  and  preached  more  thril- 
lingly  eloquent  the  transcendent  worth  of  piety,  than  pulpit  ora- 
tory. In  her  happy  death  we  saw  verified  the  saying,  Death  is 
swallowed  up  in  victory."  ^^0,  death,  where  is  thy  sting?  0, 
grave  !  where  is  thy  victory?"  "  Thanks  be  to  Grod,  which  giveth 
us  the  victory,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  Therefore,  my 
beloved  brethren,  be  ye  steadfast,  unmovable,  always  abounding 
in  the  work  of  the  Lord."  Such  triumphs  of  the  Gospel  in  the 
hour  of  death,  seen  in  lifting  the  soul  above  the  fear  of  the 
king  of  terrors,"  and  linking  it  forever  to  Him  who  is  the  inex- 
haustible fountain  of  eternal  life,  the  everlasting  strength  of  the 
dependent  universe,  and  the  shoreless  ocean  of  pure  blessedness, 
are  eminently  fitted  to  make  the  faith  of  the  surviving  steadfast," 
their  confidence  "unmovable"  in  the  Lord,  and  their  work  abound- 
ing in  Christian  life.  Such  was  the  influence  of  our  sister's  death 
upon  those  witnessing  it.  So  that  Christ  was  glorified  both  in  her 
life  and  death.  She  has  gone  to  rest,  leaving  to  the  world  the 
rich  legacy  of  a  good  example  and  a  triumphant  death.  As  a 
neighbor  she  was  kind  and  charitable,  as  a  friend  open  in  candor 
and  warm  in  attachment,  as  a  daughter  loving  and  dutiful,  as  a 
sister  amiable  and  afi'ectionate,  as  a  wife  pleasant  in  manners,  fer- 
vently devoted  in  afi"ection,  intelligent  in  companionship,  always 
studious  to  make  her  husband  happy,  and  cheerfully  gave  up  the 
charms  of  settled  life  to  make  him  useful  in  the  itinerant  field. 
May  this  sore  bereavement  be  sanctified  to  his  good  and  the  wel- 
fare of  her  grief-stricken  family.  We  know  the  loss  of  our  be- 
loved brother  is  irreparable,  and  that  his  heart  lies  desolate  and 
shattered  under  the  heavy  stroke  of  affliction ;  yet  we  are  happy 
to  know  that  he  bears  it  with  Christian  fortitude  and  becoming 
submission. 


16 


The  foilowing  beautiful  lines  were  read  by  Prof,  Shipp  and 
sung  by  the  congregation  at  the  close  of  the  sermon.  She  made 
reference  to  them  on  her  dying  bed^  was  very  fond  of  singing 
them  with  her  sisters,  and  doubtless  thought  them  expressive  of 
her  sorrowing  sisters'  ardent  love  for  her : 

Sister,  thou  wast  mild  jind  lovely — 

Gentle  as  the  summer  breeze — 
Pleasant  as  the  air  of  evening 

When  it  floats  among  the  trees. 

Peaceful  be  thy  silent  slumber, 

Peaceful  in  the  grave  so  low : 
Thou  no  more  wilt  join  our  number — 

Thou  no  more  our  songs  shalt  know. 

Pearest  sister,  thou  hast  left  us ! 

Here  thy  loss  we  deeply  feel ; 
But  -'tis  God  that  hath  bereft  us  ; 

He  can  all  our  sorrow  heal. 

Yet  again  we  hope  to  meet  thee 

When  the  day  of  life  is  fled ; 
Then,  in  heaven,  with  joy  to  greet  thee, 

Where  no  farewell  tear  is  shed. 


Ml 


